http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |
Last week, nearly 23 million Americans were glued to their TV sets for that most critical of news announcements: Who would win the karaoke contest?

I am talking about "American Idol," a TV show that began as a half-hour of nastiness and somehow, by the end of the summer, was dubbed important enough to go two hours, lead the national newscasts and have its winner jetted overnight, first class, from the "Tonight Show" in L.A. to the "Today Show" in New York.

Wow. Who knew singing "It's Raining Men" could get you all that?

Now, I know a lot of people loved this show, but please, come on folks, say you were bored, say there was nothing else on, but don't buy into what the breathless, brain-dead "Entertainment Tonight" crowd is now crowing: that this was somehow a landmark show and a landmark moment. Call it what it was. A bunch of star-hungry kids, living in a house on Mulholland Drive, trying to become famous.

In that way, "American Idol" was not much different than "Survivor," "Fear Factor" or any other thinly disguised "reality" show that tells you it is about some crucial test of inner strength when it is actually a bunch of hot babes trying to get on a sitcom.

By the way, the finalists in "American Idol" are already "owned" by the creators, who will produce CDs, books and even a feature film. This after the photo shoots, wardrobe selection, cross-country promotion and national tour.

Tell me again how this was a fun little talent contest.

Why did so many people watch "American Idol"? You can ask sociologists, psychologists or tarot card readers. Each will have a theory. "Viewers identify with youth." "We like overcoming odds." "It's the rags-to-riches tradition."

Baloney. I'll tell you why people watched: They were told to watch. This country has become a place where there are no natural moments anymore. They are manufactured. When something gets "hot," a domino effect of publicity falls into place. People magazine gushes over it. E! Entertainment moves it up the chart. CNN reports it and the morning shows begin tracking it, so as not to be left behind. USA Today blows it up on the cover.

Soon, you can't go anywhere without some media source asking, "Who does America like, Justin or Kelly?" And being a breed of people who hates feeling left out, we jump like dogs through a hoop - and land squarely on the bandwagon.

Now, before you get out your poison pens, understand who you should be angry with. Not me. I have nothing against the young singers who are trying to make it. It doesn't even bother me that their talent level is only average, that you can hear better singing at many small clubs all over the country, by people who simply may not look as good in a halter top.

Who you should be angry with are the Svengalis who are getting rich through your devotion. When 23 million people watch a show, the dollars rain down. Simon Crowell, the British judge who specializes in insulting people, just inked a major new deal. A second "Idol" will air in a few months, in a race to beat the mimics. RCA is rushing the winner's first single, "A Moment Like This," into stores by next week - next week? - just days after the one-year anniversary of Sept. 11. That ought to show the terrorists that our priorities are intact.

In time, faster than you think, "American Idol" will disappear. You need only recall "Weakest Link" and the British lady who's now back insulting her own countrymen.

But the lesson of "Idol" is less rags-to-riches than the death of natural moments. Everything is so packaged, marketed, oversold and overhyped, that by the time it reaches the end, you are sick of being told how important it is.

"What will fill the void now that 'American Idol' is over?" a USA Today editorial asked.

Here's an idea. Try a karaoke bar. At least they serve beer.

Comment on JWR contributor Mitch Albom's column by clicking here. You may purchase his runaway bestseller, Tuesdays with Morrie, by clicking here.

11/14/01: Patriotism is no excuse for stupidity10/30/01: Dr. Dre: champ for First Amendment!10/23/01: Terror is sugar-free10/16/01: The army of the in-between10/11/01: New war begins with delivery of darkness10/08/01: Give peace a chance?10/01/01: If this is supposed to make us feel secure, it isn't working09/28/01: And our flag is still there09/26/01: On the road to Ohio, life's little joys return09/25/01: Our challenge: Not to change who we are09/17/01: We can learn plenty from the horror08/31/01: Back to school: Revenge of the boomers08/22/01: The price of connectedness08/16/01: An anniversary without celebration07/31/01: Wanna name my kid? Pay me a cool Mil' --- OK, a half-mil'07/25/01: Hey, there's no television on my ice floe!07/10/01: When nobody knew what a Heisman was07/02/01: Business opportunities for the empathy-impaired06/25/01: Bunker mentality: At least Archie's meanness was satire06/18/01: Famous fathers, eat your hearts out06/05/01: 'No comment' on Bush twins is hard to swallow05/30/01: Veteran scratches out the hatred05/22/01: O.J.'s genius05/15/01: No more kidding around05/01/01: Haunted by the past04/24/01: I WANTED TO BELIEVE04/16/01: Before you file that extension...04/11/01: Ever want to break an airport agent's neck? This guy did!04/03/01: The best role models aren't on TV03/26/01: CAN YOU GET ANY MORE ATTENTION THAN THIS!?03/19/01: 'March madness' is aptly named03/07/01: I'm sorry, I apologize, I beg your forgiveness03/05/01: Young fans' web sites become a Big Harry deal